Is a yorkie the right dog for me? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Shellygirlky · 05-15-2009, 04:20 AM

Hi all this is my first post and I have a most important question. Is a yorkie the right dog for me? I am Michelle, wife to John and mother to Tyler(19) and Jared (16). I think yorkies are adorable but would a yorkie do well with our family? We have other pets: boxer, mini schnauzer, cats and koi. I guess first a most important can a tiny yorkie and a large boxer be friends? She gets along well with the cat and other dogs. I am a stay at home mom so I have the time to devote to a new baby. Tell me all about your yorkie and why a yorkie would or wouldn't be the right dog for me.

Marilize · 05-15-2009, 04:33 AM

I think as long as you have enough time (and money!) to spend on a yorkie, you will be okay. I think the only thing would be that you shouldn't get a yorkie that will be under 4 pounds as an adult. If the yorkie is smaller than that, you will have problems since the boxer can inadvertently hurt the yorkie.

Boxer are also notorious for not getting along well with other dogs, so I would assess if the boxer is friendly with other dogs, relaxed and playful when he/she meets other dogs. If not, you would have to get a professional in to sort it out for you.

Yorkies are high maintenance dogs (but how we love them!) and they are very addictive! I thought I should warn you. One yorkie is almost never enough!

Besides all the hereditary illnesses, they have sensitive and tiny stomachs, are very active and requires daily grooming. Yorkie are also very clever, so you need to keep their little minds occupied, otherwise you could lose many hours of sleep or worse, many valuable possessions.

I don't think Yorkies are for everyone, but if you are willing to spend a lot of time and money on a gorgeous, spunky little dog, they can be the perfect dog!

Ellie May · 05-15-2009, 04:34 AM

Welcome to YorkieTalk.

Yorkies and Boxers can be the best of friends if the Boxer is very gentle.
they probably should never be left alone together though for the Yorkie's safety. You may also have a hard time finding a breeder that will sell to someone with a larger dog but there are some out there.

Shellygirlky · 05-15-2009, 04:45 AM

I don't know the yorkie personality that well, reason for my questions, but I have ownd several boxers over the years and have never had one that didn't like other dogs. When you talk of expenses do you mean vet bills(do they get sick alot?) or grooming(I have some grooming experience just not with yorkies) I think that wouldn't be a problem. How are they with ease of house training? crate training?

Ellie May · 05-15-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellygirlky

I don't know the yorkie personality that well, reason for my questions, but I have ownd several boxers over the years and have never had one that didn't like other dogs. When you talk of expenses do you mean vet bills(do they get sick alot?) or grooming(I have some grooming experience just not with yorkies) I think that wouldn't be a problem. How are they with ease of house training? crate training?

Quite a few of them are very hard to house train.
Some do well with crate training and a few decide that it is just fine to potty on themselves in there. They can be yappy if not trained. They can be very fragile and one wrong jump off the couch, etc. could mean a broken neck, so they do need to be watched closely. Learning to groom at home would save you a lot of money.

Yorkies are prone to periodontal disease, liver shunt, hypoglycemia, luxating patella, legg calve perthes, possible kidney issues later in life, pancreatitis, etc. but all breeds have their issues. Just go with a great breeder and brush teeth regularly.

Micah my love · 05-15-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellygirlky

I don't know the yorkie personality that well, reason for my questions, but I have ownd several boxers over the years and have never had one that didn't like other dogs. When you talk of expenses do you mean vet bills(do they get sick alot?) or grooming(I have some grooming experience just not with yorkies) I think that wouldn't be a problem. How are they with ease of house training? crate training?

Hi and welcome to YT imo and experience with yorkies they are like people all different personalities. I have some that is very layed back & others that race around like horses, i do not have a lot of vet bills with mine i feed them good food and try my best to keep them healthy with all shots up to date. i have noticed that some on YT have not been so lucky but there are a lot of YT members, I am sure the healthy ones here outweighs the not so healthy. potty training can be a chore sometimes unless you have a lot of patience. but you owning a large dog would be a big problem for me i know first hand that the best natured can turn on a small one before you can say don't do it. this happened to me many years ago
i hope that i have answered some of your questions

Betty & Micah my love

Ashley V · 05-15-2009, 09:04 AM

I have two yorkies. One is 6.5 lbs and he is a little dare devil and doesn't know his size. His name is Chip. Then there is Smokey who is 13 lbs and the most playful thing.

From what you've described, you sound like you'd be a good family for a yorkie, but the only thing I'd be concerned with is if you got a really tiny yorkie with a boxer. She (or he) may not mean to do any harm, but there have been cases where large dogs have actually accidentally hurt or killed a yorkie just from playing with them. I'd look for a bigger one, maybe one that is a bit "out of standard" size. Possibly look into rescue as there are plenty of bigger ones there that need loving homes and are just as beautiful. My Smokey was a rescue and I think he is beautiful

RubyDuffield · 05-15-2009, 09:09 AM

hi welcome my name is michele boxers can b a bit bouncy but u know your dog ive got a yorkie, germenshepard, & a chihuahua they get on lovely 2gether.Ruby was easy 2 train she loves her crate u won't have any trouble yorkies r a lovely breed.

yorkie mad · 05-15-2009, 09:17 AM

Well Shelly youve come to the right place to find out lol. Like Michele said you know your dog but If I was you Id check out the other thread "Be honest, do you find yorkies challenging" I personally don't but they arn,t like regular dogs , they need everyday care and attention which is why I got one as my skin kids are grown and I have the time. Good luck , keep us updated about your decision.

QuickSilver · 05-15-2009, 11:23 AM

When you say you are a stay-at-home mom, does that mean you have children? Some breeders/rescues will not give yorkies to families with small children because they are not the sturdiest of dogs. I would definitely recommend getting one on the larger side, 10 lbs +, so he can keep up with your boxer.

=============================
Oops, I see you said you have two teenagers. So that should be fine. I would still recommend a bigger one, though. I have a 4 lb-er and I love him to death, love carrying him in a purse, etc, but I worry a lot about him getting hurt by a bigger dog, etc.

manolos mom · 05-15-2009, 11:35 AM

Hi and welcome to YT. I have 3 Yorkies a Westie, and Scottie. My Scottie like to play rough and runs hard so I must watch to make sure my Yorkies are OK. Yorkies are very fragile but they are also very quick with good reflexes. Good Luck and make sure you check out our Yorkies for sale section. We have very good reputable breeders that can help you with a healthy baby Yorkie..or our rescue section that has rescues needing homes all over the country........Good Luck

bildio · 05-15-2009, 11:50 AM

All of the above, plus look for one on the larger end of the Yorkie spectrum, i.e., teapot size. A teapot may be less "fragile" than a real small Yorkie, e.g., less than 5 lbs.

Lynn WDW · 05-15-2009, 12:20 PM

I had a boxer when I was growing up and a cocker spaniel- they were best friends. I have a 50 lb. dog now that is a mutt who lives outside and a 6 lb yorkie who lives inside. The yorkie attacks the large dog (Lucky) every time we go outside. Fortunately Lucky is most patient with Baxter and puts up with his crap. I don't think you will have much trouble with a yorkie especially if you are home all day. My yorkie does love to play. He will fetch all day if you will throw the ball. We have to hide it at night to get him to go to bed. And if he sees it he will sit and whine for it. I think you should go for it if you want one. I wanted one forever before I got Bax and love him to pieces. We did go through the "terrible 2s" when he was about 6-10 months old. I threatened to give him away every day! We made it though.

05-15-2009, 04:20 AM	#1
Shellygirlky Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hulen, KY Posts: 189	Is a yorkie the right dog for me? Hi all this is my first post and I have a most important question. Is a yorkie the right dog for me? I am Michelle, wife to John and mother to Tyler(19) and Jared (16). I think yorkies are adorable but would a yorkie do well with our family? We have other pets: boxer, mini schnauzer, cats and koi. I guess first a most important can a tiny yorkie and a large boxer be friends? She gets along well with the cat and other dogs. I am a stay at home mom so I have the time to devote to a new baby. Tell me all about your yorkie and why a yorkie would or wouldn't be the right dog for me.

05-15-2009, 04:33 AM	#2
Marilize YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cape town, South Africa Posts: 703	I think as long as you have enough time (and money!) to spend on a yorkie, you will be okay. I think the only thing would be that you shouldn't get a yorkie that will be under 4 pounds as an adult. If the yorkie is smaller than that, you will have problems since the boxer can inadvertently hurt the yorkie. Boxer are also notorious for not getting along well with other dogs, so I would assess if the boxer is friendly with other dogs, relaxed and playful when he/she meets other dogs. If not, you would have to get a professional in to sort it out for you. Yorkies are high maintenance dogs (but how we love them!) and they are very addictive! I thought I should warn you. One yorkie is almost never enough! Besides all the hereditary illnesses, they have sensitive and tiny stomachs, are very active and requires daily grooming. Yorkie are also very clever, so you need to keep their little minds occupied, otherwise you could lose many hours of sleep or worse, many valuable possessions. I don't think Yorkies are for everyone, but if you are willing to spend a lot of time and money on a gorgeous, spunky little dog, they can be the perfect dog! __________________ Cash & Orio RIP Beautiful Joni

05-15-2009, 04:34 AM	#3
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Welcome to YorkieTalk. Yorkies and Boxers can be the best of friends if the Boxer is very gentle. they probably should never be left alone together though for the Yorkie's safety. You may also have a hard time finding a breeder that will sell to someone with a larger dog but there are some out there. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

05-15-2009, 09:04 AM	#7
Ashley V ♥ Chip ♥ Smokey ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Leesburg Posts: 3,835	I have two yorkies. One is 6.5 lbs and he is a little dare devil and doesn't know his size. His name is Chip. Then there is Smokey who is 13 lbs and the most playful thing. From what you've described, you sound like you'd be a good family for a yorkie, but the only thing I'd be concerned with is if you got a really tiny yorkie with a boxer. She (or he) may not mean to do any harm, but there have been cases where large dogs have actually accidentally hurt or killed a yorkie just from playing with them. I'd look for a bigger one, maybe one that is a bit "out of standard" size. Possibly look into rescue as there are plenty of bigger ones there that need loving homes and are just as beautiful. My Smokey was a rescue and I think he is beautiful __________________ ~~ Chip ~~ Smokey ~*~ My heart is wrapped around their little paws Karley Marissa born 1/20/12 weighing 8 lbs 11 oz and 21.5 inches long

05-15-2009, 09:17 AM	#9
yorkie mad ♥Tiny Tia my Furbaby♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: portsmouth england Posts: 1,824 Blog Entries: 7	Well Shelly youve come to the right place to find out lol. Like Michele said you know your dog but If I was you Id check out the other thread "Be honest, do you find yorkies challenging" I personally don't but they arn,t like regular dogs , they need everyday care and attention which is why I got one as my skin kids are grown and I have the time. Good luck , keep us updated about your decision. __________________ Lots of love from Julie , Olly &Tia's mummy. Yorkies leave paw prints on our hearts

05-15-2009, 04:45 AM	#4
Shellygirlky Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hulen, KY Posts: 189	I don't know the yorkie personality that well, reason for my questions, but I have ownd several boxers over the years and have never had one that didn't like other dogs. When you talk of expenses do you mean vet bills(do they get sick alot?) or grooming(I have some grooming experience just not with yorkies) I think that wouldn't be a problem. How are they with ease of house training? crate training?

05-15-2009, 09:09 AM	#8
RubyDuffield Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Havant UK Posts: 128	hi welcome my name is michele boxers can b a bit bouncy but u know your dog ive got a yorkie, germenshepard, & a chihuahua they get on lovely 2gether.Ruby was easy 2 train she loves her crate u won't have any trouble yorkies r a lovely breed.

05-15-2009, 11:23 AM	#10
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	When you say you are a stay-at-home mom, does that mean you have children? Some breeders/rescues will not give yorkies to families with small children because they are not the sturdiest of dogs. I would definitely recommend getting one on the larger side, 10 lbs +, so he can keep up with your boxer. ============================= Oops, I see you said you have two teenagers. So that should be fine. I would still recommend a bigger one, though. I have a 4 lb-er and I love him to death, love carrying him in a purse, etc, but I worry a lot about him getting hurt by a bigger dog, etc. __________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger. Last edited by QuickSilver; 05-15-2009 at 11:24 AM.

05-15-2009, 11:35 AM	#11
manolos mom Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 7,982	Hi and welcome to YT. I have 3 Yorkies a Westie, and Scottie. My Scottie like to play rough and runs hard so I must watch to make sure my Yorkies are OK. Yorkies are very fragile but they are also very quick with good reflexes. Good Luck and make sure you check out our Yorkies for sale section. We have very good reputable breeders that can help you with a healthy baby Yorkie..or our rescue section that has rescues needing homes all over the country........Good Luck __________________ Ethical Breeders follow and support http://www.ytca.org/

05-15-2009, 11:50 AM	#12
bildio Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD Posts: 1,536	All of the above, plus look for one on the larger end of the Yorkie spectrum, i.e., teapot size. A teapot may be less "fragile" than a real small Yorkie, e.g., less than 5 lbs. __________________ *Niko (3 yrs) Gus (5 yrs)* *Squirt (17 yrs - RIP)*

05-15-2009, 12:20 PM	#13
Lynn WDW YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 397	I had a boxer when I was growing up and a cocker spaniel- they were best friends. I have a 50 lb. dog now that is a mutt who lives outside and a 6 lb yorkie who lives inside. The yorkie attacks the large dog (Lucky) every time we go outside. Fortunately Lucky is most patient with Baxter and puts up with his crap. I don't think you will have much trouble with a yorkie especially if you are home all day. My yorkie does love to play. He will fetch all day if you will throw the ball. We have to hide it at night to get him to go to bed. And if he sees it he will sit and whine for it. I think you should go for it if you want one. I wanted one forever before I got Bax and love him to pieces. We did go through the "terrible 2s" when he was about 6-10 months old. I threatened to give him away every day! We made it though.